System for processing merchandizing tags having printed and magnetic information thereon

ABSTRACT

A system for processing merchandizing tags cut from stock having a magnetizable portion and a portion for receiving visible printed information. The stock is carried through a magnetic recording station and a printing station where indicia are respectively magnetically and visually recorded on the stock on each of the portions corresponding to tags which are cut from the stock at the last station. A reader is also provided which reads the magnetic indicia on a tag by being actuated when the tag is properly positioned to move a magnetic reader over the magnetic indicia on the tag.

United States Patent Kono [4 1 Mar. 21 1972 [541 SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING3,112,697 12/1963 Pittman et al ..101/292 MERCHANDIZING TAGS HAVING3,120,178 2/1964 Lamers PRINTED AND MAGNETIC 3,343,482 9/1967 Scott eta1 101/90 INFORMATION THEREON Primary Examiner-Terrell W. Fears [72]Inventor: Barry W. Kono, Lido Beach, L. 1., NY. AssistantExaminer-Vincent P. Canney [73] Assignee: TIg-A-Tron, Inc., New York,N.Y. Attorney 412mb? & Lazar 221 Filed: July 22, 1969 s71 ABSTRACT [211Appl. No.: 843,454 A system for processing merchandizing tags cut fromstock having a magnetizable portion and a portion for receiving visibleprinted information. The stock is carried through a mag- [22] ..340/17 11g;/gg netic recording station and a priming station where indicia are fi respectivelymagnetically and visually recorded on the stock I 1 e o40/174 on each of the portions corresponding to tags which are cut fromthe stock at the last station. A reader is also provided [56] ReferencesChad which reads the magnetic indicia on a tag by being actuated whenthe tag is properly positioned to move a magnetic reader UNlTED STATESPATENTS over the magnetic indicia on the tag.

2,889,769 6/1959 Goodbar et al. ..101/66 5 Claims, 14 Drawing FiguresPATENTEBHAR 21 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 6 F I I INVENTOR.

HARRY Ml. KONO PATENTEDMARZI I972 3,651,503

' sum 2 OF 6 INVENTOR. F l 3 HARRY W- KONO MA@,WI I

A 770RA/EY PATENTEUMARZI 1972 3,651 ,503

SHEET 3 [IF 6 INVENTOR. HARRY W- KONO Wz a ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMARZI I9723 6 51 5'03 sum 5 UP 6 I 1 W .x

IN VENTOR. HARRY W- KONO SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MERCHANDIZING TAGS HAVINGPRINTED AND MAGNETIC INFORMATION THEREON CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONS This application is related to copending application Ser.No. 757,819, filed Sept. 6, 1968 by Harry W. Kono on a Machine ForLaminating Magnetic Strip on Tag or Label Stock, now abandoned, andcontinued in application Ser. No. 154,640 filed June 18, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to systems and related machines for preparing merchandizing tagshaving both magnetic and printed information thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Merchandizing tags heretofore have beenprepared with written information representative of merchandizing datatogether with coded information in the form of punched holesrepresentative of a selected code of information useful for accountingpurposes. Such systems have been found to be costly and time consumingin processing. Furthermore, the delays that occur between the time thetag is initiated for processing until the final information has beenaccumulated is so great as to make the continued use of such systemsprohibitive in the light of modern day computer and data processing.

Attempts have been made to replace the punch-hole type of codes withmagnetically recorded information, but such attempts have been failingin one or more respects. For example the magnetic vehicles were such asto distort the magnetically stored information to thereby render thetotal information useless.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the previous systemsor processing techniques for merchandizing tags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION magnetic recording of indicia on themagnetizable surface of the web is made corresponding to digitalinformation fed into the system by manually operated thumb-wheelswitches. At the second station, a visual printing is made on the web ofcertain information corresponding, in part, to the information recordedmagnetically. At the last stage, the individual tags or labels, re cutoff the advancing end of the web and conveyed to a common hopper.

A reader is provided to respond to the insertion of a tag into a slot.The magnetic indicia is then read and transmitted to a storage tape.Many such transactions are thus repeated with similar tags of the sameor similar information. Periodically the information from the storagetape is retransmitted to a data processing center for sorting,classifying and tabulating the information for inventory and accountingpurposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring now to the drawing whichshall be described in detail in the description to follow:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the equipment of the system inconsole form;

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a tag processed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged view of the magnetic recording andreading station of the printing console;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged view of the tape-feed andpinch-roller assembly of the printing console, partially in section;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view as seen from the right side of the assemblyshown in FIG. 3, partially in section, to show otherwise hidden parts;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of thepinch-roller assembly;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the drive mechanism for advancing the weband for cutting tags from the end of the web as seen from the rear ofthe console;

FIG. 7 is a view of the mechanism as seen along the viewing line 7-7 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a front elevation view in partial section but with the coverremoved showing the pin mechanism for moving the tags during theprinting phase of the operation;

FIG. 8B is a similar view of the mechanism of FIG. 8A showing the partsin a different position;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the tag reader of the system with the coverremoved;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the reader of FIG. 9 as seen along theviewing line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of the reader as seen along theviewing line 1l-11 ofFIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of the reader as seen along theviewing line 12-12 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,like reference numerals used throughout the several views of oneembodiment of the invention will refer to identical parts.

FIG. 1 shows in a front elevation view several consoles in which theequipment of an entire system embodying the invention is housed. It willbe understood, however, that these consoles in actual use will usuallybe located at different locations, indeed, at locations separated byhundreds of miles as will be better understood from the description ofthe system and the components thereof which shall follow.

Console 10 is the printer console housing the apparatus for processingthe stock of tags in web form. The web is provided on a reel 36 and isprocessed to be provided with magnetic and mits the information tostorage equipment such as tape deck console 12. Console 12 houses thetape deck for storing the information derived from the individual tagsduring the transaction by the merchandizer to the retailer. The tagreader 14 in actual practice is located near the cash register of themerchandizer. A console 16 houses data processing equipment and collectsthe information from any one of a plurality of tape deck consolestations 12. The console 16 is located at central processing center orcentral office for general accounting purposes.

FIG. 1A illustrates a merchandizing tag 18 which is processed by theprinter console 10, and is verified, as will be better understoodhereinafter from the description that follows, by the tag reader 14.

The tag is preferable of the form prepared in accordance with a machinedescribed in the copending application referred to above, viz, Ser. No.757,819, filed Sept. 6, 1968 and entitled Machine for LaminatingMagnetic Strip on Tag or Label Stock.

The tag 18 is provided with a hole 20 disposed along one edge thereofand is provided with a magnetic surface 22 for receiving and storing inmagnetic form information representative of merchandizing data.

Preprinted information, such as the retailer's packaging program, thecorporate image, identification or trademark may be provided on the tag,while information such as the contents, etc., indicated at 30, the size(28) indicated at 32 and the price (24) indicated at 34, are printed onthe surface of the tag by the machine to be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printer console is provided with a supply reel36 carrying a web 38 of a continuous tape about 3- /4 inches wide whichcorresponds to the height of the tag 18 shown in FIG. 1A. The web oftape 38 is provided with a series of spaced holes 20, each hole beinglocated along the center line of each tag that will be formed by themachine. The web includes the preprinted information just described.

In general, the web is processed through several stages comprisinginitially the magnetic writing and reading stage 40, the pinch rollerstage 42, the intermittent movement (printing stage) 44, and, finally,the cutting stage 46.

Numerical data is fed into the machine by operation of the thumb-wheelswitches mounted on panel 48. The numerical (digital) information isconverted at stage 40 to magnetic signals which are appropriately gatedto impart a magnetic signal which is stored on the magnetic portion 22of the web 38.

I The supply reel 36 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrowshown thereon as it feeds the web 38 over rollers through the recordingstage 40, advanced by the pinch roller 42 over a guide roller 124 andformed into a slack loop 50,

over idler roller 126 onto the flat portion of the printing stage 44 forprinting of visual data on the web corresponding, in part, to theinformation applied to the thumb-wheel switches. The web 38 isadvancedby an intermittent movement at the printing stage 44 in synchronism withthe operation of the printing head of the printing assembly 52. As theweb is advanced to the cutting stage 46 knife blade 54 is automaticallyoperated to sever from the end of the web a tag 18'to be dropped downthe chute 56 to an appropriate container, not

shown.

' A garment tag 18 is attached to a garment for display for retailing bythe merchandizer. When the garment is brought to a clerk the tag 18 iseither removed from the garment and inserted into the opening 58 of thetag reader 14 shown in FIG.

' l. The tag reader 14 responds automatically to the insertion ofselected or desired category or classification.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 et seq., there is shown in greater detailthe components of the various stages.

The writing" and reading stage 40 of the console 40 is shown in FIG. 2.The web 38 from supply reel 36 is guided over a drag roller 58 andguided between a rubber pressure roller 61 carried on a shaft 62 andjournaled in pinch bracket 64 which may be lifted from pressure contactby a handle 66. The web 38 is then guided over an arcuate bottom plate68. The plate 68 is developed along the arc of about or about one-thirdof a radian about a center having a radius of about one foot. A matingarcuate top plate 70 is spaced above the bottom plate with sufficientclearance for the web to pass therethrough.

A magnetic write head 72 and a magnetic read head 74 are positioned inclose magnetic relationship with the magnetic tape portion 22 of theweb. Both of these magnetic devices are of conventional design. Thewrite head 72 is responsive to stored signals representative of each ofthe 26 individual digital (numerical) data corresponding respectivelyto, the selected position of the thumb-wheel switch on the panel 48.

The width of the garment tag 18 is selected to carry the magneticimpulses on the tape 22 in any of the known arrays of, for example, abinary digital code using five bits of magnetic information for eachdigit l-2-4-8 code for the numerical head 74 to verify the logic of thebinary information in the manner known in the art.

A bracket 76 with an adjustment coil spring 78 is secured by screws 80to provide the support for the reading and writing heads. The tensionadjustment effects a suitable pressure on the bracket and therebyprovides for a spacing adjustment.

A photoelectric light source 82 is suitably mounted as indicated todevelop a light beam in line with the aperture 20 of the web 38 fordetection by a photoelectric cell, on the opposite side of the web, notshown, to provide a gate or start signal for the magnetic recordingcircuits. I

The web 38 is then passed over roller (preferably nonrotating) 84 intothe pinch roller stage 42 shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pinchroller comprises a rubber cylindrical roller 86 mounted on shaft 88,which is journaled in theflanges 90 of I the energy for electric motoror by microswitch 102 for I energizing the motor 100. Attached to thebracket 92 by a screw 106 is a plate 104 resiliently spaced therefrom bya coil spring 108. The plate 104 is connected to a rigid post 1 10 by aplurality of tension springs 1 12. A shaft 1 14 is journaled in thefixed channels 94 and extends through the console to the rear portionthereof to a continuously rotating flywheel 116.

The motor 100 is mounted to the pinch-roller assembly through a gear box118, the shaft output of which is connected to a cam 122. The cam 122 isin sliding contact with a plate 104 and as the cam rotates it drives theplate 104 downwardly carrying therewith the pinch roller 86 against thetension of springs 112.

The pinch roller 86 is pressed against the web 38 pinching it againstthe surface of the shaft 112. This action causes an impulse force oflarge momentum to cause the web 38 to be driven in the direction of thearrows during the period of contact between the pinch roller 86 and theshaft 1 14. This period is determined by the shape of the cam as well asthe spacing between the trip switch 96 and the microswitch 98. Theseelements are appropriately designed to effect the desired duration oftime for driving the web 38. This, of course, as will be understood fromthe description which shall follow, is synchronized and coordinated withthe other operations that are being performed on the web;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the elements of the pinch rollermechanism 41 that cooperate to effect the impulse motion of the web 38just described.

The web 38 is then passed over a nonrotating cylinder 124 and is formedinto a takeup loop 50 and then passed over cylinder 126 as seen inFIG. 1. The web is then guided through the printing stage 44, showngenerally in FIG. 1. A sectional view of the pin mechanism is shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, a plan view of the actuating mechanism is shown in FIG.7, a rear elevation of the mechanism of FIG. 7 being shown in FIG. 6.

A push pin holder 128 is attached to a block 130 and carries a pair ofpins 132 spaced by at least one garment tag 18. The pins 32 arepositioned for engagement with the tag aperture 20 and to slide within aslot in the surface 134 over which the web 38 passes. The block 130 isconnected to a sliding cam 136 which in turn is reciprocated and guidedby pins 137 in the slots of flat spring 139.

A disc 138 driven by the motor 166 through bevel gear 158 is pivotallyconnected to connecting rod-140 which in turn is connected to a bearingblock 141 and is pivoted about pivot 144. A spring 146 mounted on shaft148 maintains the slide mover 141 in tension as the crank 138 drives theslide mover 142 in reciprocating motion.

Diagonal slots 137a formed in the cam 136 guide the cam 136 andtherefore the pins 132 in a vertical sliding displacement as the cam 136is moved transversely.

As the pins 132 are pushed upwardly to engage the aperture of the web38, the bearing block is then driven in a direction to the left of FIG.8A to carry the web 38 in that direction. The printer 52 is then causedto impart a print of data, such as indicated by 32, 34 and 30 (FIG. 1A)on the web 38. The pins 132 are then withdrawn downwardly as shown inFIG. 83 by the intermittent feed action.

The push pin holder 128 is then reciprocated to the right carrying thepins 132 in the lowered position back to the position shown in FIG. 8Aready for raising the pins into engagement with the next apertures 20.This motion, it will be understood, is intermittent and is synchronizedwith the action of the pinch roller 42 and the operation of the magneticread and write heads 72 and 74. The pins thus are reciprocatedhorizontally and vertically in a cradle system to sequentially andintermittently advance the web 36 for printing under the head 52.

Coordinated with this intermittent cradle movement a knife 46 isprovided to sever from the end of the web 38 a tab 18. The tab is guidedthrough a chute 56 into a receptacle, not shown. The knife 46 isattached to knife holder 150, 152 driven by an eccentric lever coupledto the drive shaft 162. Carried on crank 154 mounted on a rear shaft 156which in turn is driven through a bevel gear 158 carried on a mountblock 160 and then in turn attached to a shaft 162. A gear 164 isconnected to a gear train, not shown, for actuating the printer 52. Theshaft is then connected through a gear 165 to the main motor 166. Thebevel 158 is journaled through a mounting block 170 for rotating a shaft172 and the eccentric disc 138 which in turn actuates the pin-feedmechanism intermittently as above described with respect to FIGS. 8A and8B.

Thus at each of the stations a separate but coordinated function isperformed on an intermittent movei'nent basis, the period of which isset to allow for the complete cycle of printing the visual data on thetag and for reading and writing information on the magnetic portion 42.

The number of thumb-wheel switches mounted on panel 48 is in accordancewith thedesired data. The data is applied to the magnetic portion 22 ofthe tag 18. The visual information represents, for example, the style,size, color, manufacturer, price, store number, and various otheradditional information that a retail store or a chain of stores mayconsider necessary.

In a preferred form of the system in accordance with applicantsinvention, 26 individual digits are used, eight of which are duplicateswith respect to the price and size. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1 on thethumb-wheel panel 48 a four-digit unit 172, a second four-digit unit174, a five-digit unit 176 and a three-digit unit 178 are shown. Atwo-digit unit 180 is used for identifying the color of a garment. Aduplicate of units 176 and 178 for visual printing by unit 52 (top ofFIG. 1) are shown as 184 and 182. A three-digit unit 182 is shown aswell as a five-digit 184. The switch units 172 may represent a numberrepresenting a particular store, 174, the manufacturer's identifyingnumber, 180, the color of the garment, 172a, the type of garment(blouse, dress, slacks, etc.), 174a, the style of the garment, such asplain, flared, bell-bottom, etc.

For the usual operation an operator will adjust the thumbwheels 172-184by moving the switch positions in the usual known manner. The switchesare arranged to produce an electrical signal corresponding to a desiredbinary code. The necessary signal voltages are conducted from thethumbwheel switch to the transducer equipment for generating a magneticpulse corresponding to the binary signal. The magnetic pulse isdeveloped at the magnetic write head 72 to effeet a suitable magneticpolarity and strength to be recorded on the surface of the web insuitable physical location thereon as well known in the art.

A jogger button 190 is provided to energize the system for operationonly as long as the button is depressed. Thus the web can be advancedintermittently and the various stations adjusted accordingly. Thus, ifthe printing head 52 were in a down position at the end of the previousoperation, it is desirable to raise it so that it will not be damagedduring a reset of the print wheels by resetting the thumb-wheels.

I have discovered that the recordation of the magnetic signal on the websurface 22 is rendered accurate and substantially permanent by carryingthe web 38 in a non-flat, that is, an arcuate path under tension beneaththe magnetic heads 72. The parity-reading function by the head 74, alsoarranged in the arcuate path of the web, performs an accurate andreliable check by such an arrangement.

As a preferred form the web is produced by laminating the magneticmaterial onto a tag or stock material also in an arcuate path so thatthe magnetic material is bonded to the surface of the tag under tensionthereby providing a homogeneous and flat surface without crinkling,bubbling or other such distortion.

A machine and the process or making such a tag is disclosed in mycopending application referred to above.

The printer 52 is provided for each run of tags with visually printedinformation indicated in FIG. 1A. Some of the data thereon may be alsodigitally coded and recorded in magnetic form.

The tags are collected from the chute 56 and then shipped to the userwho will then attach the tag to the particular garment for which thedata is related.

At the retail store the tag will be carried by the purchaser to thepoint of payment. In order to accurately and quickly be apprised of thesales transaction a console reader 14 is provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, l0, l1, and 12, there is shown a tag readerarranged to read the data on the magnetic portion 22 ofthe tag 18.

A motor, not shown, drives a belt 200 about a pulley 202 connected to ashaft 204. The shaft 204 is journaled in plate 206 and extends into ashaft 208 of small diameter. A rubber roller 210 mounted by screw 212 toa plate 214 is positioned to pinch between it and the shaft 208 a tapestrap 216 which carries a reading head 218 adapted for slidable motionover the magnetic portion 22 of the tag 18 to scan the magneticinformation stored therein. The reading head 218 is attached to andunder a trapazoidal plate 220 by screws 222. The plate 220 is carried byguide rods 224- for lateral motion thereon. The coil springs 226attached to the plate 220 serve to provide a cushion of the plate 220from theleft position to which it is driven by the tape 216 to thestarting position at the right as shown in FIG. 9.

A track guide 230 guides the tape strap 216 in the arcuate path definedby the shape thereof to engage the switch 231. Switch 231 deenergizessolenoid 234 to release the tape strap 216 allowing it to be returned tothe starting position by spring 240, carrying with it the reading head218. Spring 235 returns the rubber roller 210 to its spaced positionaway from the shaft 208 when the solenoid 234 is deenergized.

The solenoid is closed upon a tag 18 being inserted into the slot 58.The tag 18, it is noted, must be properly inserted so that the magneticsurface is facing the magnetic head. An asymmetrically located hole maybe included on the tag 18 to be the means to verify the properorientation of the tag by photocell means. Other techniques can also beused such as a notch or the like which is sensed by a microswitch.

The tag 18 is inserted in a slot 58 at the inner end ofwhich is situateda switch 244 responsive to the position of the tag thereon. The switchenergizes the solenoid 234 to actuate the pinch rollers to come intocontact and pull the belt attached to the magnetic head across the tag.

The flywheel in pinching contact with the rubber roller 210 causes thestrap 216 to be pulled to the left carrying with it the plate 220 andthe reading head 218. The magneticinformation on the tag 22 is detectedby the reading head 218 and carried to transducing equipment forrecordation at a remote location.

The tape strap 216 is driven into the belt guide 230 causing it to fitand strike the switch 231 which in turn actuates the solenoid separatingthe rubber roller from the shaft 208 thereby releasing the tape strap216 allowing it to be withdrawn under tension by spring 240.

Each time a tag is inserted into the reader 14 into the slot 58 thecycle is repeated.

A switch 250 is used to energize the electrical energy required for themotor and the solenoid.

The output of the reading head 218, as indicated above, is conveyedimmediately to a tape deck console 12 for recording the magneticinformation from each tag 18 onto the tapes 60.

At any desired period the information from the tape deck may be scannedor transmitted to a remote location, such as a Dataphone console 16 inthe same store or at some other selected location. The information isthen collated, collected and tabulated by known processing techniques.The information is thus available at very rapid pace and gives athoroughly accurate and complete record of each and all transactionsrelating to the retailers operation. Each tag, of course, which is readby the reader 14, may be or may not be the same as any other tag. Thereader 14 reads the magnetic information, that is on the magneticportion 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the console prints both forvisual and magnetic data a plurality of identical tags. Anytime duringthe operation the machine is stopped and the data in the thumb-wheelswitches is changed as desired, such changes are coordinated with therequirement of a printing head templet in the printing head 52, whichprints additional information such as contents, manufacturing number,indicia of the seasons such as Christmas, etc.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the apparatus may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. Thus the invention may be utilized by the useof precut tags of suitable dimensions corresponding to that shown inFIG. 1A. With such an arrangement the tags would be translated or movedin a horizontal manner whereby the pinch roller mechanism, the reel 36,will not be necessary. Nevertheless at the magnetic recording stage thetag would preferably be processed in an arcuate or curved path inorderto effect accurate magnetic recordation and reading thereof.

1 claim:

1. A systemfor processing merchandising tags cut from stock, said stockhaving a magnetizable surface portion and a plurality of aperturesevenly spaced along the web a distance corresponding to at least anintegral multiple of the width of a tag, comprising means for recordingmagnetic indicia on the magnetic surface portion of the stock, means forprinting visual indicia on other portions of said stock, means forcutting from said stock tags each of which carry a discrete set ofvisual and magnetic indicia, said magnetic indicia being magneticallyrecorded on said stock in response to a signal corresponding to theaperture on said stock, said stock being guided along an arcuate pathwhereby said stock is taut beneath said magnetic recording means, andmeans for maintaining said stock continuously taut comprising a pinchroller mechanism, said pinch roller mechanism being energized by astart-switch and being deenergized by a stop-switch arranged to advancesaid stock to a position under said recording means corresponding to thedesired recording location.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a reader of themagnetic indicia on one of said tags, said reader including means toreceive said tag, means responsive to the presence of said tag by theactuation of a switch when said tag is placed in. a predeterminedposition in said receiving means to move a magnetic reader over themagnetic indicia on said tag, means for transducing the magnetic indiciainto signals representative of said indicia, and means for storing saidsignals, said magnetic reader moving means including a spring-loadedcarrier of said reader arranged to be drawn over said tag while sensingthe magnetic state of said tag, and plac ing a spring under tension, andmeans for returning said carrier to its starting position by the actionof said spring returning to its normal position. D

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic indiciacorresponds to digital information manually selected on thumb-wheelswitches.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said printing means includes aprinting head having print wheels operatively rotatable in response todigital information manually selected on thumb-wheel switches.

5. A system according to claim 4 including means for intermittentlyadvancing said stock in cooperative relation with said printing head andmeans responsive to said intermittent advancing means for energizingsaid printing head to print indicia on said stock while said stock isstationary.

1. A system for processing merchandising tags cut from stock, said stockhaving a magnetizable surface portion and a plurality of aperturesevenly spaced along the web a distance corresponding to at least anintegral mUltiple of the width of a tag, comprising means for recordingmagnetic indicia on the magnetic surface portion of the stock, means forprinting visual indicia on other portions of said stock, means forcutting from said stock tags each of which carry a discrete set ofvisual and magnetic indicia, said magnetic indicia being magneticallyrecorded on said stock in response to a signal corresponding to theaperture on said stock, said stock being guided along an arcuate pathwhereby said stock is taut beneath said magnetic recording means, andmeans for maintaining said stock continuously taut comprising a pinchroller mechanism, said pinch roller mechanism being energized by astart-switch and being deenergized by a stop-switch arranged to advancesaid stock to a position under said recording means corresponding to thedesired recording location.
 2. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a reader of the magnetic indicia on one of said tags, saidreader including means to receive said tag, means responsive to thepresence of said tag by the actuation of a switch when said tag isplaced in a predetermined position in said receiving means to move amagnetic reader over the magnetic indicia on said tag, means fortransducing the magnetic indicia into signals representative of saidindicia, and means for storing said signals, said magnetic reader movingmeans including a spring-loaded carrier of said reader arranged to bedrawn over said tag while sensing the magnetic state of said tag, andplacing a spring under tension, and means for returning said carrier toits starting position by the action of said spring returning to itsnormal position.
 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said magneticindicia corresponds to digital information manually selected onthumb-wheel switches.
 4. A system according to claim 1 wherein saidprinting means includes a printing head having print wheels operativelyrotatable in response to digital information manually selected onthumb-wheel switches.
 5. A system according to claim 4 including meansfor intermittently advancing said stock in cooperative relation withsaid printing head and means responsive to said intermittent advancingmeans for energizing said printing head to print indicia on said stockwhile said stock is stationary.